Combined grade set and level rod



Jan. 7, 1958 w. H. HENDERSON COMBINED GRADE SET AND LEVEL ROD/INVENToR.- MDE/ JZENDEQSQN 5, W a. m. v w, M m 5 4 Z w ad. 4 V l w l?E 4f 4 [k n Ww Jan. 7, 1958 w. H. HENDERSON COMBINED GRADE sET AND LEVELROD 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1953 INVENTOR.- MBE A. HENDERSONnitecl This invention relates to the surveying art and more particularlyto equipment used in leveling and setting grades. Specilically, theinvention pertains to a combination level and grade-set rod employed inconnection with an engineers level instrument for setting grades orelevations on vertical surfaces and on lill sections for earthwork.

It is the usual practice when setting grades on vertical surfaces toemploy what is termed a level rod which is a simple vertical rod havinggraduations in increments of feet, tenths and hundredths of feet, withthe zero mark at the lower end. A conventional target, having ahorizontal center line or indicator, is slidably mounted for verticalmovement on the rod with the center line registering with thegraduations. The level instrument is set up in position at a selectedplace and the level rod is placed upon a predetermined point, which is apreviously set bench mark (B. M.), and the reading on the rod ratesPfttem is next recorded. The bench mark elevation plus the rod readingequals the H. I. (height of instrumentsight). The elevation or grade tobe set is then subtracted from the H. I. to obtain the. grade rodsetting, and the target is then set at that reading. The rod is thenplaced adjacent a point on the vertical surface where the grade is to beset and the rod man moves the rod upwardly or downwardly as directed bythe instrument man until the target is set in exact alignment with theinstrument sight. The rod man then marks the zero or bottom of the rodon the vertical surface to set the elevation or grade. Since the rodmust be held stationary during this operation, it is customary to employtwo men at the rod, one `to support the rod and the other to record theindicatedy figures, perform the necessary calculating and mark thevertical surface to set the grade. In addition to the disadvantage ofrequiring .the services of two men at the rod, the conventional methodreferred to above may result in inaccuracies due to errors which mayoccur when` moving the rod upwardly or downwardly while at the same timemaintaining the rod vertical at all times, the rod being supportedsolely by the rod man.

The conventional rod mentioned above is also employed when setting thegrade on a ll section for earth work. In this case, the rod is set up onthe established bench mark and a reading is taken. vation plus the rodreading equals the H. I. The rod is then set up at a location on theground where the grade is to be'established. The diierence between thegrade rod reading and the new reading on the rod indicates the amountwhich the earth must be excavated or filledv itis possible for a singlerod man to perform all the duties The B. M. eleva.

back sides and the slidable section having an indicator atits lower endregisterable with the graduations of the other rod section. Inaccordance with another feature and object of the invention, a target isadjustably carried by the slidable rod section and has two faces, eachobservable at a side of the rod, the invention providing a novelclamping means by which the target can be retained in adjusted positionson the movable rod section.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rod, of the characterreferred to, in which the linear graduations are so arranged that thefront side of the rod and its target face are employed for establishingboth plus and minus grades on vertical surfaces, and the reverse side ofthe rod is used in conjunction with the front side in establishinggrades along the ground or other hon'- zontal surfaces, the rod beingused in inverted position when establishing plus grades.

Another object of the invention is to provide a twosectional rod of thetype indicated having interengaging tongue-and-groove portions at theiradjoining vertical edges insuring parallelism between the sections andallowing free sliding movement of the adjustable section. A 'n relatedobject is to provide in a sectional rod, of the class-referred to, quickacting clamp means by which the slidable section can be locked in itsselected positions of verticalV adjustment.

A further object is to provide a rod of the type specified which issimple in construction and durable in use, one whichv isv highlypractical and accurate in use, and one which greatly expedites theleveling and grade setting Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the rear orlevel-rodl side of the rod;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the rod sectionsat the clamping means;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 5--5 of l Fig. 4;

Fig.` 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary front view of the rod sections,showing the target mounted thereon;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view, illustrating the method of applying thegrade-set side of the rod to use in setting a minus grade on a verticalsurface;

Fig. 9 is a similar view, with the rod used in setting a plus grade on avertical surface; and

Fig. 10 is also a similar view, showing the rod applied to use inestablishing a grade at a selected point on a horizontal surface.

Fig. ll is'a perspective view of the lock plate involved in my`construction.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 7, my combined gradeset and levelrody comprises a pair of rod sections 15' and 16 which are arranged inside-by-side relation as Patented Jan. 7, 1958 i This object is attainedshown; Therod` section .1S has a plainfrontorgradei Set face 17, thatis, without graduations Vor Scale A.I narkings. Its opposite or levelrod face 18, however, is provided with a linear scale 19, thegraduations 1, 2, 3,

etcf, representing Alinear feetand the-.subdivisions .between` 5these;numerals designating hundredths @of feet, .the zero.. markingVbeing at the `lower end. `of A,the rod, section.. The section 15 maybemade of any desired.and-fpractical.y length, for 'example of suchlengththati-itsggraduatin adjacent .the upper endy of the sectionrepresentsthe six-x foot marking ofthe scale.

The other rod section 16 -hasa' scale 2.0 omits-front. or grade-set face21, the graduations `thereofbeingfin:v foot .increments andhundredths-thereof, from zero. at...

thelower endr of the section to,,say, six feet-adjacent theA 15 upperend ofthe section. At its lowerzeroy end,v the rodI section 16 has apoint or indicator .23.v Thefrear or-level rod face 24-of therod section16fhasr a linear scale-25a having graduations starting withaseven-footmarktat aw point one-foot above the lower indicato;` end 23 andfendf 20ingwith the reading twelve-feet adjacent its upper'end..

Asshown,l therod sections and-16 are arrangedl for relative verticalsliding movement by reason of A a.' tongue-and-groove connection shown'in Figs.4vand-5.

The connection means includes a rst'female slide ele-' v25 ment ofsubstantially rectangularvcross section permanently secured within agroove formed in the longitudinal'.` edge .of therods section 15 whichis .-adjacent-,theother section 16.v The slide element 30 has-aguideway-'SZS whichaextends throughout the `length of :the element,kthe t 30 guideway-j having fa narrowfpontionL or openUslQt-QSS, and,-vtapered surfaces or seats 34:?, Y j

The othertrodI .section .-16 has a groove inf;.its;longitudi nal. .edgeadjacent the section 15 and:permanentlysecured in thisgroove isa-maleslideelernent;38fof substantially.' 35

U- shapeda `cross section providing fa flollgitudnalgchannel: 39.`Thesides of the'slide element:narefprovidedwith; outwardly directed;longitudinal iianges or .tonguesv f 40 which` 2 shown, lit`witbinfthetapered ,isidess off ther;

argot@ 31 fthe ,Slide element 30,:theitcngues4ohaving `40 taperedsurfaces engaging lagainst the correspondingly.-

gf@ @Slat thgfendstoffthe guidewayfz.: 'B-yfths:pro-.-rv

the slide element 38, the plate having a t-aperediholea 44:i

having a4 threaded portion 46 which is screwed.;througl1`:.55`

a threadedfholein af.plate.-..47;-securedifstozsthefouter side edgeofthe rod sectional-5.1y The,:innerereducedzfend.oi. the.clampinggscrlew 4 5,- has.y -a -..conicalg-.h ead'. 48 :which litswithin the tapered hole 44 of the plate 43.

After..the,.rod.sectiongs -landl 1.6fzhav`e 'been :adjusted 60longitudinally, .the thumbscrewi-f 45 :is rotatedrin va d.irec.` tiontqcausefits conical head-48:10 .Svczedgeiny thefta'pered hole 44 of theplate 43 so as to expand the plate intog.: rmengagement; :wi-thithesides :offl therslide .element-.'68

andto; .spread these,A sides; tot cause the-tongues;v 40` to .zent- 65gage firmly with the seatsfitf Thusfthe rodfsectionsnare Positively;retained in. selected'.A adjusted-f` positions-i and when" it is desiredto a'chpangeethe; relative settingifoft-.the secigns,'.it,.i s.onlyfnecessary totloosen `the clamping screw.I 45 to -free.the.sections.fonprelativefslidingmove 70' ment. In practice, two such clampingmeans..are.em5. ployehasgshown. AdOvl/el 49-on :thezplateileisslidablein zhole in the slide element 30 and thnsusenvesrrogpr venttrotationf0f--thefplatefwheuithe.latterisdocatedmut? wardlyfbeyond the endofftherodsectiong16,

1.the trod. sections 115, fand, 16;,arefretainedsin'; side- 4Referring'now particularly to Figs. 6 and7,"'the present rod has atarget device 50 which includes a channel-Vv shaped slide member orholder 51. The member 51 embraces the rod section 16 and the ends of itsvertical sides are bent inwardly to provide runners 52 which engage theinner vertical edge of the movable rod section 16, within the clearancespace existing between the rod sections 15 and 16. A set screw 53 isthreaded through the holder 51 into engagement with the outer verticaledge of the rod sectionnl. and by tightening. this screwzthef'holder 1is:retained in any position of vertical adjustment.

Secured to the sides of the holder 51 are front and rear targets 55"'and'56in the form .of lrelativelylargediscs, each having a centralrectangular lhole 57 and crossing vertical and horizontal lines 58, 59'defining quarter circles which are appropriately colored in accordancewith the usual practice in conventional targets of this nature. Thecombination grade-set and level rod having been described in detail, themannen/of applying it- Cto` useds explained as followsz Assuming-that itis required to set Ia minus-gradefonVT a vertical` surface A; theengineers levellfinstrument'B'fis setup iat a selected position andlevel in the usualfmamner;A The-.present -rod vis thenA placed inupright position-v-upon" a point or bench mark C, the elevation ofwhichthas previously -been established, the lower endv of 'the rod"section 15resting'upon'the point C, as shownin-Fig. 8:' As" sumingthat-the new grade to belestablished onthe verti' cal-'surfaceis tolbefat the level indicatedA by the reference letterfD; andfthatv this-newgrade is, for example',"2.l8' below the H511., thenthe H. L minus 2L18'equals'the" grade'to beset. The target is then'set on the scale mark"2.18- on the movablerodv section 16 and `clamped thereto;`4 Theinstrument-man sights the rod and signals to raise'or lower therodsection 16 until the center line of the target coincides with the lineofV sight.- The Ythumb screw 45'4v is thentightened to clampthe section16,"and vits target 50,'`

in Ithe adjusted position, the sectionslS and 1 6 '.thenfbecoming arigid unit.

The rod is then set up with'the lowerend of the section 15-restin'g'uponthe ground or ooradjacent thevertical" surfacegA byl the rod man. Theinstrument man then'. sightsthe'rod `and signals the rod man to raise,or lower 5 thej'rod' section 16 4relative to the sectionrv 15 untilthecentery line-of.the'target 50 coincides with the lineof.

sight. In order'to'etlect such vertical movement of ,the

rodf"section16,fA the clampingscrew 4S is rst loosenedl.v

and afterthe'target-.has'been properly positioned,'.the

50.',screwisitightened.. Since the` target lremains xedon the...scale"iat-the'2.`l 8"'markabove Ythe lower zero endfof the. section,-the Vindica'torz"designates the newly established.' -gradejon .thesurface A and this new gradeis. suitably marked fonthe surface. It is tobe noted that the rodf1'5`,.. 16is shown as turned ninety degrees fromthe position as sumeddurillg the settinggof the grade, in. order..tosiruplify` the illustration. C

When it"'i's required to establishv a. plus grade settinggEt.

upon theA vertical surfaceA and this new gradeeis cal culte'fd to beforexample,` 1.65 abovethehorizontal line i of sight oftheV instrument B(H..I.), the target-50 is acl-` justedfalong the rod section 16toregister itsA center line.

with the'V 1.65' Ymarking-on the..section l16.

The rodf15, v1,6.then isinvertedand placeduponther,` groundj orilooradjacentthevertical surface A. The

rod man thenraises or lowers the rod section 16,'as-.di-g4 rected` by,the instrument-manto align-the target line-with;w

the line ofsight. Consequently, theindicator:23v'is-"lo` catedatlalevel.1.65"4 above theline of sight, whichistthet@ requirednew-grade;v Aymarkisthen placed on the ver-:-

tical. surface A at the indicator.

It is to be noted from the.foregongthattfollowingfthe initial-n settingoffther target.k at the: appropriatenmarkaom thescalez-'Ztlfof the rodsectiontgl; whenathetrodsissin "plaee; upon thepelevationvpointC..no'ifurtherrcomputaf y tion is necessary, the target remaining fixedto the section 16 and the latter being' adjustable vertically ofthesection to set the grade. at any number of selected points on thevertical surface. The present sectional. rod thus makes it possible fora single rod man to manipulate the rod, that is, hold the rod in erectposition, to move the target into registryv with the sight line, and toset the grade on the vertical surface. The simplified procedure madepossible through the use of my two-part rod thus results in greatlyexpediting the grade setting'with a minimum of personnel and eliminatesthe possibility of error which frequently occurs when the rod'man isrequired to compute the elevation of the grade at the rod, nd the corvresponding elevation graduation on the rod scale and mark the verticalsurface opposite this established graduation. It is to be noted thatwhen using the grade-set side of the sectional rod, the section 15serves solely as a postlike support for the other section 16.

Assuming now that it is required to set a grade on a fill section forearthwork, the procedure followed is as illustrated in Fig. l0. As thefirst step, the rod is placed upon the bench mark or point C with thelower end of the section 15 resting upon this point. By sighting throughthe instrument B, the elevation of the sight above the point C is found,and let us assume that this vertical distance is 4.03', which is the H.I.

When the elevation of the grade to be set at point F is 2.75 below theH. I. and the target is set at 2.75 on the front grade set face of therod, the rod section 16 is lowered to align its target with the sightline. The rod sections are then clamped together. The lower indicatorend 23 of the rod section is then accurately located at the required newgrade or elevation.

As indicated at I, the rod man then observes the rear or level rod face25 (shown in Fig. 3) and notes, let us say, that the indicator 23 of thesection 16 coincides with graduation mark .76 of the scale 19. Thismeans that the ground must be built up .76 at the station F to bring itto the required new grade or elevation which, as explained, is 2.75below the H. I. The rod man notes this reading and marks the fill on thestake at that point, entering the data in his book.

It is thus seen that by manipulating the rod section 16 and its target50 as explained above the computing is accomplished automatically andaccurately without mental calculations so that the chances of mentalerror are eliminated. Moreover, the single rod man performs the severaloperations in a systematic series of steps and the necessity forrecording figures during the procedure is avoided, only the finalreading, for example the resultant .76' figure mentioned above, beingrecorded by the rod man for reference.

When the rod is adjusted to a fully extended condition, the zero end ofthe scale 25 of the rod section 16 registers with the mark of highestvalue, for example 6, on the scale 19 of the other rod section 15. Withthe sections clamped together in this relation, the rear side of the rodprovides a level rod which may be employed for setting grades orelevations on horizontal surfaces, for cross-sectioning, differentialleveling and in connection with various other procedures where theconventional level rod is ordinarily used.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with thecombination grade set and level rod which I now consider to representthe best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that therod structure shown is only illustrative and that the invention may becarried out by modified means.

I claim as my invention:

1. A grade set rod, comprising: a first vertical rod section having alower end for placement upon the ground or other substantiallyhorizontal surface; a second vertical rod section disposed alongsidesaid first section and slidably adjustable lengthwise thereof, said rodsections being arranged in a common plane and having coplanar firstfacesextending parallel to said common plane, said second section having alinear scale on its said first face; clamping means operative to retainsaid second section in selected positions of vertical adjustmentrelative to said first rod section; and a target slidably adjustable onsaid second section along said first faces and registerable withthegraduations of said linear scale.

2. A grade set rod, comprising: a first vertical rod section having alower end for placement upon the ground or other substantiallyhorizontal surface; a second vertical rod section disposed alongsidesaid first section and slidably adjustable lengthwise thereof, said rodsections being arranged in a common plane and having coplanar firstfaces extending parallel to said common plane, said second sectionhaving a linear scale on its said first face with the zero graduation ofthe scale located at the lower end of the section; clamping meansoperative to retain said second section in selected positions ofvertical adjustment relative to said first rod section; and a targetslidably adjustable on said second section along said first faces andregisterable with the graduations of said linear scale, said second rodsection being projectible selectively beyond the upper and lower ends ofsaid first rod section.

3. A grade set rod, comprising: a first vertical rod section having alower end for placement upon the ground or other substantiallyhorizontal surface; a second vertical rod section disposed alongsidesaid first section and slidably adjustable lengthwise thereof, said rodsections being arranged in a common plane and having coplanar firstfaces extending parallel to said common plane, said second sectionhaving a linear scale on its said first face; clamping means operativeto retain said second section in selected positions of verticaladjustment relative to said first rod section; and a target slidablyadjustable on said second section along said first faces andregisterable with the graduations of said linear scale, a longitudinaltongue on one of said sections and a longitudinal groove in the othersection receiving said tongue, said tongue and groove permittingrelative longitudinal adjustment between the rod sections, said tongueand groove being in said common plane.

4. A grade set rod as defined in claim 3 in which said tongue-and-groovemeans includes a first, female, slide element carried by and extendinglongitudinally of said first section and providing a guideway having areduced portion and tapered seats at the sides thereof, a second, male,slide element carried by and extending longitudinally of said secondsection, said second element being of channel-shaped cross section andproviding sides having longitudinal tapered tongues engageable with saidseats, a split, expansible clamping plate disposed within said secondslide element and having a conical hole, and a clamping screw threadedthrough a plate carried by said first rod section and extending througha hole in said rst section, said screw having a conical head engaging insaid clamping plate, dowel means engaging between said clamping plateand said first slide element for preventing relative rotationtherebetween, rotation of said screw causing said head to wedge in saidhole of said clamping plate so as to expand the latter to causespreading of the tongues of said second slide element into firmengagement with said seats and thereby lock said second rod section inadjusted position relative to said first rod section.

5. A combination grade set and level rod, comprising: a first verticalrod section having a lower end for placement upon a substantiallyhorizontal surface; a second vertical rod section disposed alongsidesaid first section and slidably adjustable lengthwise thereof, said rodsections being arranged in a common plane and having first coplanarfaces extending parallel to said common plane and together constitutinga grade set rod, said sections also having second coplanar facesparallel to said common plane, said second faces togetherconstituting,alevel.rod,. the Jiir'st-A face of Isaid v 'second ,.rod. sectionhaving thereon` a rstlijnearscale, the zero graduationof whichtisatfthelower end of said .second.sec tion,, the `secondfface ofl said 'r'stsection having thereon.- a second linear scale, thezero graduation oflwhichisA at.the, lower. endof said irstsection, and the second face of,said second ,section having thereon a third linear scale, the,lowergraduation ofwhich is at the-lower end of saidsecond section, saidthird scale providinga continuation of -saidsecond scale when its' saidlower graduationris,in.register with the highest graduationof saidsecond scale; and atarget slidably'adjustable on said second rod sectionand register. able .withthe graduationsV of saidir'st scale.

6. A combination grade lset and level rod as defined inf claim 5,' inwhich saidjtarget includes a holder movable along 4said second vsectionandhavng parallel side `portions disposed against the first andi'seco'ndfacesof said second rod section, anda pair of target discs, eachVmounted on a said 'side portion -and having a-crossline,. movement ofsaid holder along said second section electingfrom its v,saidedge,.and..disposed.in l`a jlongitudinal.groove f in theVcorrespending,gedgef. .the` otherisection ,andtperf mittin'grela'tiveverticaLfsliding'. movement .between-:said 1 sections, saidtongnendg'rooveheing JCatedbnQa com.

mon medial Jverticfal plane passing vjhr'o'ilgl; ,said sections,

vsaid.rodjsec'tio'ns having rst, -`copla'na'n .vt'ertic'al,-faces at oneside ofjthe rod extending parallel ,to 4said medial plane andsecond,coplanarr'verticaljfaces atjthe opposite side of jthjeu'rodextendingparallelto said medial plane,therst face offsaidsecondrodsection having aflrst linear ,scaleu thereon, the second face Yofsaidlrst rod section having'a second` linear scale thereongandlthesecondfa'ceof said rst rod "section vhaving a linjear Iscalethereon;y and a target.element slidably mounted "on said 'second 'rodsection 'andnc'arrying a rjst. target disc disposed at. .sai'dj y rstfaceand registerable withsaid rjst scale and a second target discdisposed ...at jsaid secondface and 'regis'` tei-able with said secondscale, the lower end jof saidsecond section providingT a .pointerregisterable withv the graduations of 'said thir'd scale `'whentherodris. employed. for determining the amount of ytill necessary toestablish.y

a predetermined grade.

References Cited inthe le of this `'patent .UNITED STATESPATENTSQ599.242 Klein Feb. 151893 833,8801 Keuffel..A ,.ot.,23, 1906Y 1,165,820

Watson Dec. 28, .1915

